SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Improving children’s education usually comes at a cost.
In Parkland School District’s ambitious $210 million Vision 2030 project to address school overcrowding, the initial cost has just gone up.
During a presentation at the school board meeting Tuesday to update the part of the project that consists of expanding and renovating the high school building, it was revealed the price of doing business has increased.
Rob Avitabile, senior project manager of Alvin H. Butz Inc., the construction company on the high school project, disclosed the budget has increased to $58.760 million — up $3.76 million.
“In January, the budget was $55 million, which included the feasibility study and concepts. But as we moved forward in July, Alloy5 [Architecture company] started work on the design. Based on that new design, the budget increased. Why? Because now there’s more square footage. It was 60,000 square feet; now it’s 75,000 square feet.”Rob Avitabile, senior project manager of Alvin H. Butz Inc.
“In January, the budget was $55 million, which included the feasibility study and concepts,” Avitabile said.
“But as we moved forward in July, Alloy5 [Architecture company] started work on the design. Based on that new design, the budget increased.
“Why? Because now there’s more square footage. It was 60,000 square feet; now it’s 75,000 square feet.”
School board member David J. Hein said the square footage increase was needed to provide more science rooms and science labs to accommodate the students.
Groundbreaking for the high school project is scheduled for April 2026, with a completion date of July 2027.
After exploring many options, the administration is moving forward with expansion plans rather than build a second high school and/or a third middle school at a combined cost of $410 million.
The feasibility study conducted last year reviewed classroom space in all buildings, building use, current and projected residential development and other factors.
Enrollment at the high school is expected to exceed its capacity by 3,317 by 2025. The district anticipates an increase of more than 1,400 students by 2034.
'One high school, not two or three'
Vision 2030 also consists of renovating and expanding Orefield Middle School.
Although no start date has yet been finalized — Parkland Superintendent Mark J. Madson anticipates a December-January announcement — the Orefield project is expected to be completed by 2030.
Madson was asked whether a school tax increase is forthcoming because of the project's cost. He said that while no dollar figure has been established, a recommendation will be made to the board to increase such taxes throughout the district.
Mrs. Jamie Bortz, senior project manager with Alloy5 Architecture in Bethlehem, presented an update on the high school project and narrated a video slide presentation on upgrades and additions.
The project design development plan will be completed at the end of September, she said, followed by a cost estimate with Alvin H. Butz Inc. construction manager of Allentown.
“The bidding process will begin in September 2025,” Bortz said. “And contracts will be awarded in February 2026.”
Vision 2030 addresses the need for additional space at the secondary level across the district in grades 6-12.
The decision to expand and renovate the schools aligns with community input favoring one high school.
“The community has said they want one high school, not two or three.”Parkland School Board President Carol A. Facchiano
“The community has said they want one high school, not two or three,” board President Carol A. Facchiano said.
The project also addresses infrastructure needs for the next decade without buying land or building a new school — costlier options with longer timelines.
Also being considered is relocating the football stadium from Orefield Middle School to the high school. That cost would be $19 million, which Facchiano said she believed already is budgeted.
High school, middle school plans
Among the Parkland High School additions and improvements:
- 26 classrooms
- Eight science labs
- Library upgrades
- Four large group instruction spaces
- Connect wings at the rear of the building to improve traffic flow
- Possibly a new athletics lobby
- Cafeteria expansion
- Nurse’s suite expansion
- Media center upgrade
Orefield Middle School improvements include:
- Significant infrastructure upgrades and safety enhancements
- Relocating bus lot, fueling stations and the bus garage
- Sewer system upgrades
- Addressing stadium considerations
- Expanded parking areas
Orefield also will get new traffic patterns featuring dedicated loops for bus drop-off and parent pick-up will be implemented, alleviating congestion and bolstering safety during high-traffic periods.
A new addition at the middle school will include team-oriented spaces for teaching teams to balance the enrollment between the two middle schools.
